The life of Winfield Scott Hancock : personal, military, and political

Front matter

The Institute of Museum and Library Services through an Indiana State Library LSTA Grant

THE LIFE

OF

Chapter I

Birth of Hancock — His Birthplace — Montgomery County, Pennsylvania ; its Scenes and Associations — The Hancock Family — Ancestry and Early History — Benjamin F. Hancock and his Wife — Character and Characteristics of the Norristown Justice — Elements of Family Character — Family Politics . . Page 1

Chapter II

Early Life — Home Education — School Days at the Norristown Academy — The High School and the Literary Society — Pkying Soldiers — The Boy Orator and Lecturer — Character of Young Hancock — His Sense of Justice— Anecdote of the Young Orphan Boy — Extraordinary Coincidence — Young Hancock turns Printer 8

Chapter III

West Point — Young Hancock is appointed Cadet — His Life at the Military Academy — Course of General Reading — Studying Blackstone — Graduation— Brevet Second Lieutenant, Sixth Infantry — He starts for the Frontier — Fort Washita, Indian Territory — The Mexican Border — Commissioned Second Lieutenant — Rumors of War — Anxiety for Active Service— Beginning of the War with Mexico — The Impatient Young Soldier— General Scott, and his Victories 15

Chapter IV

Ordered to Mexico — Landing at Vera Cruz — The March from the Coast — Guerrilla Fighting — Capture of the National Bridge — March to Puebla — Junction of General Pierce's Column with the Force under General Scott — A Forward Movement — Active Service — Lieutenant Hancock's First Engagement — Battles of San Antonio and Churubusco — Promotion of Lieutenant Hancock — Gallant Cavalry Charge — Phil Kearney id CONTEXTS.

Loses his Arm — An Armistice — Attack on Molino Del Rey — The Castle of Chapultepec — Assault on the Fortifications — Capture of the Castle — Evacuation of the Mexican Army and Entrance of the American Forces into the City of Mexico — Occupation of the Capital — Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo — The End of the War, and the Evacuation of the City of Mexico by the Americans — Departure from Vera Cruz — Lieutenant Hancock ordered to Prairie du Chien — Leave of Absence and Return to Pennsylvania Page 21

Chapter V

After the Mexican War — The Return Home — A Warm Reception — Flattering Testimonial of the Pennsylvania Legislature — Ordered to St. Louis — Joins the Sixth Infantry — Appointed Quartermaster — Commissioned Captain — Ordered to Florida — Seminole War — Outbreak in Kansas — Mormon Difficulties — Return to Fort Bridger — Expedition to Benicia, California — Leave of Absence and Return East — Ordered to Los Angeles, Southern California — In Charge of the Military Depot — 1 860-'61 : Outbreak of the Rebellion — Excitement at Los Angeles — A " Pacific Republic" Suggested — A Fourth of July Celebration — Captain Hancock's Patriotic Speech — He suppresses the Impending Insurrection — Asks to be Sent on Active Service — Is Ordered to the East — Lands at New York, and reports for Duty at Washington .... 32

Chapter VI

Ordered to the Quartermaster's Department — Commissioned Brigadier- General and sent to the Front — Preparation of the Army of the Potomac— Occupations of the Winter of 1861— '2 — Drilling the Men — General Hancock as a Disciplinarian — His Standing with his Soldiers — Grand Review of the Army of the Potomac — Beginning of the March on Richmond — Skirmishes and Reconnoissances — Battle of Williamsburg — The Brigade wins its First Colors — General Hancock commended in the Official Report — " Hancock was Superb To-day " — Movement to the Peninsula along the Chickahominy — Battles of Gaines's Mill and Garnett's Hill — The Change of Base to the James — Retreat of the " Seven Days " — Battle of Savage Station — Arrival at Harrison's Landing — Up the Potomac 48

Chapter VII

Movement from Harrison's Landing to Acquia Creek and Alexandria, to join General Pope — Hancock's Brigade at Centreville — Defeat and

CONTENTS. vii

Demoralization of Pope's Army — The Capital in Danger — General McClellan placed in Command of the Defenses around Washington — Battle of Antietam — General Hancock made Commander of the First Division, Second Army Corps, on the Field of Battle — Loss at Antietam — The Army delayed by the Want of Clothing and Supplies . Page 60

Chapter VIII

Encampment of the Second Corps — Harper's Ferry Reconnoissance, and Skirmishing at Charlestown — March to the Rappahannock — Final Removal of General McClellan — Replaced by General Burnside — The Army before Fredericksburg — Waiting for Pontoons — Battle of Fredericksburg— Gallant Assault on Marye's Heights by Hancock's Division — Repulse of the Union Forces — Retreat across the Rappahannock— Losses in General Hancock's Division — The " Mud March " — Removal of General Burnside — General Joseph Hooker in Command — In Winter Quarters ... 68

Chapter IX

The Reorganization of the Army— The New Battle-field — Position of Lee's Army — General Hooker's Plan — The Battle of Chancellorville — Part borne by General Hancock — Heavy Engagement on May 2d and 3d — General Hooker rendered Insensible by a Spent Shot — Gallant Conduct of Colonel N. A. Miles — Withdrawal of the Union Army — Hancock placed in Command of the Second Army Corps — Lee moves Northward, crosses the Potomac from Western Maryland into Pennsylvania— Movements of Hooker's Army — General Hooker relieved by Major-General George G. Meade — Concentration of the Opposing Armies at Gettysburg 76

Chapter X

Movements of the Second Army Corps — March by Acquia Creek and Dumfries to Centreville — General Meade's Headquarters at Taneytown — Interview between Generals Meade and Hancock — Death of General Reynolds — Hancock ordered to the Front in Command of the First, Third, and Eleventh Corps — Copy of General Meade's Order — Directed to select the Battle Ground — Appoints the Field of Gettysburg . 85

CHAPTER XL

Gettysburg — Disposition of the Army — General Sickles engaged— The Third Corps repulsed and reenforced— General Sickles disabled — His viii CONTENTS.

Troops placed under the Command of Hancock — Our Line strengthened by Doubleday's Division and a Portion of the First Corps — The Enemy advancing all along the Line — Heavy Fighting — General Hancock reenforced by Part of Lockwood's Brigade — Gallant Charge of the First Minnesota, and Capture of Rebel Colors — Caldwell's Division — . Losses of the First Division, Second Army Corps — The Brave Fifth New Hampshire — Night of the 2d of July . . . Page 93

Chapter XII

Gettysburg — Council of War — The Last Day; July 3d — Heavy Artillery Firing — General Hancock and Staff ride along the Line of Battle, under a Heavy Fire — Advance of the Enemy's Line — Gallant Bearing of General Hancock — Fierce Attack by the Rebel Infantry, 18,000 strong—. The Battle wavers — Desperate Fighting in All Directions — The Enemy repulsed — General Hancock shot from his Horse — Message to General Meade, " We have gained a Great Victory " — The Commander-in-Chief thanks General Hancock " in the Name of the Country and for Myself for the Service he has done this Day " — General Hancock carried from the Field — He is removed to his Father's House at Norristown, Pennsylvania 103

Chapter XIII

Gettysburg — Summing Up — General Lee's Intention to renew the Battle — Retreat of the Confederate Army — Killed and Wounded — Incidents of the Battle by an Eye-witness — Splendid Action of Hancock and his Staff — Longstreet's Advance — Magnificent Courage of the Southerners— The Philadelphia Brigade — Death of the Confederate General Armistead — General Hancock the Savior of Gettysburg . .113

CHAPTER XIY.

General Hancock's Progress to Norristown — Popular Demonstrations on the Road — Reception at Home — Presentation of a Service of Plate to General Hancock — His Convalescence — Joins his Family at Longwood, near St. Louis — Reports for Duty at Washington, December 15, 1863 — Returns to his Command of the Second Army Corps — General Grant is appointed General-in-Chief of the Armies, and takes Immediate Command of the Forces in Virginia — Reconstruction of the Army of the Potomac — General Hancock ordered North on Recruiting Service — Grand Review by General Grant of the Second Corps (30,000 Men) — Situation of the Confederate Army — Campaign of 1864 — The " Wilderness" 120

CONTENTS. Jx

Chapter XV

The Wilderness — Crossing the Rapidan — The Enemy in Force — Forming the Line of Battle — Attack of the Second Corps — Close Quarters in the Woods — Nightfall, and Cessation of Fighting — Brigadier-General Hays killed — A Serious Loss , Page 130

Chapter XVI

The Wilderness — Second Day of the Fight — Hancock ordered to attack — His Preparations — The Battle opens — The Enemy driven back at all Points — Hancock's Corps reenforced by one Division of the Ninth Corps — Burnside comes up — Sheridan's Cavalry attack Longstreet — A Blunder — Convalescent Union Soldiers mistaken for Confederates — Longstreet's Assault in Force — Our Left broken — Retirement of the Union Forces — Our Breastworks captured and retaken — Conflagration — The Union Forces retire toward Spottsylvania Court-House . 137

Chapter XVII

Battle of the Wilderness — General Hancock's Report — Difficulties of the Situation — Anticipated Movements not executed — Complimentary Reference to Officers of his Corps — Splendid Testimonial to Generals Hays and Wadsworth — A Brave Young Massachusetts Officer — Tabulated Statement of Losses in the Second Corps — General Hancock in Command of Sixty Thousand Men 147

Chapter XVIII

Spottsylvania Court-house — Advance of the Union Army — Lee's Movements — Attack on Warren's Column — The Latter retires, and the Soldiers sleep on their Arms — Hancock's Corps — Splendid Morale of the Men — Death of General Sedgwick — Killed by a Sharpshooter — General Hancock's Official Report of the Battle — Desperate Fighting — The Woods on Fire — Sharp Repulse of the Union Army . . .154

Chapter XIX

Spottsylvania Court-house — The Second Corps ordered to attack — A Night March — Forming the Line of Battle — The Attack on the Enemy's Pickets— Charging the Intrenchments — The Irish Brigade — The Entire Enemy's Line carried by Assault — Splendid Victory — Rebel Losses — Anecdote of the Capture of the Rebel General George Stuart — The Enemy reenforced — Their Desperate Efforts to recapture their Line — General Egan " holding; the Fort " 169

X CONTENTS.

Chapter XX

Spottsylvania Court-house — Second Line of Intrenchments — Gallantry of Colonel Carroll — The Fighting renewed on the 18th — Ewell retreating— General Hancock's Report — Losses of the Second Corps during the Campaign — General Hancock commends his Subordinate Officers — Summary Page 181

Chapter XXI

The March to Bowling Green — Crossing the Mattapony at the North Anna—. Taking Position — Throwing up Breastworks — Gallant Charge by Egan's and Pierce's Brigades, Birney's Division — Crossing the North Anna — Strong Position of the Enemy — March from the North Anna to the Pamunky — Cavalry Engagement — Harassing the Enemy — Tolopotomy Creek — Ordered to Cold Harbor 189

Chapter XXII

Cold Harbor — Formation of the Second Corps — The Assault — General Brooke seriously wounded — General McKeen killed — The Attack repulsed by the Enemy — General Grant on the Battle-field — An Historical Error corrected — The Discipline and Loyalty of the Second Corps — A Flag of Truce and Cessation of Hostilities — Horrible Sufferings of the Wounded between the Lines — Siege Operations — Frightful Losses of the Second Corps — The Movement to the James River . .199

Chapter XXIII

The Change of Base — Crossing the James — Ordered to Petersburg — A Chapter of Accidents — Blind Guides — General Grant's Order — Operations in Front of Petersburg — The Assault — Gallant Conduct of General Barlow — Death of Colonel Kelly (Eighty-eighth New York Volunteers), commanding the Irish Brigade — General Hancock disabled by his Old Wound — He relinquishes his Command to Major-General Birney 209

Chapter XXIV

Petersburg — General Birney in Command — Persistent but Futile Attempts to carry the Enemy's Lines — The Assault abandoned — The Union Army fortifies its Position — Threatening the Weldon Road — Capture of a Second Corps Battery — The Men dispirited — General Hancock resumes his Command — General Order No. 22 — General Birney takes command of the Tenth Corps — Losses of the Second Corps from the Crossing of the James to July 26th, 1864 . . • . .222

CONTENTS. x[

Chapter XXV

Petersburg — The Enemy's Defenses — A Siege undertaken — Construction of Earthworks — An Unfortunate Mining Experiment — General Hancock's Expedition to destroy the Railroads north of Richmond — Combined Operations of Infantry and Cavalry at Deep Bottom — Gallant Charge of Sheridan's Cavalry — Hancock returns with his Command to Petersburg Page 231

Chapter XXVI

Deep Bottom again — The Corps dispirited — Obstacles to the Expedition — Spirited Attack by Terry's Division — Our Troops assaulted in Turn, and driven from their Works — General Gregg's Brilliant Action at Deep Creek— Near Approach to Richmond — A Flag of Truee — Return of Hancock's Command to Petersburg — Result of the Expedition — Cutting the Weldon Railroad— -The Second Corps in the Advance — Occupying the Old Works at Ream's Station — Approach of the Enemy in Force 239

Chapter XXVII

Ream's Station — General Hancock's Preparations for the Fight — Attack on the Works — Capture of two Union Batteries by the Enemy — Demoralization of our Men — Raw Recruits, Substitutes, and " Three-months' " Men — General Hancock's Horse shot under Him — Perilous State of Affairs — A Battery recaptured — The Enemy driven back by Miles — Complete Demoralization of Gibbon's Division — Depression of General Hancock — Withdrawal of the Union Army .... 247

Chapter XXVIII

Battle of Boydton Road — Hampton's " Beef " Raid — Movement on the South Side Railroad — General Grant's Orders — Grant and Meade on the Field — The Enemy open Fire — Sharp Artillery Practice — Attack by the Enemy in Force — Repulse of Pierce's Brigade — A Dangerous Situation— Masterly Movement by General Hancock — Brilliant Defeat of the Enemy — Savage Flank Attack by Wade Hampton's Cavalry — No Reinforcements — Short of Ammunition — General Hancock's Embarrassing Situation — He concludes to withdraw — General Hancock's Report—Return to Petersburg 252 xii CONTENTS.

Chapter XXIX

Hancock's Last Battle with the Second Corps — His Popularity with his Men — Retrospective — General Hancock directed to raise a Corps of Veterans— He Relinquishes his Command, and names his Successor — His parting General Order No. 44 — Order of General Humphreys on assuming Command — General Hancock ordered to Winchester, Va., to take Command of the Middle Military Division — Assassination of Pres" ident Lincoln — General Hancock ordered to Washington — He is charged with the Security of the Capital — Lieutenant-General Grant's Official Report — The case of Mrs. Surratt . . . Page 265

Chapter XXX

After the War — Middle Military Department — Headquarters at Baltimore — General Hancock transferred to the Department of Missouri — Indian Troubles — General Hancock and the Cheyennes — Indian Treachery and its Punishment — General Hancock appointed to the Command of the Fifth Military District — He proceeds to New Orleans — The Reconstruction Acts— Order No. 40 278

Chapter XXXI

The Fifth Military District — General Hancock's Powers — President Lincoln's Theory of Reconstruction — Flattering Recognition of Order No. 40 — Internal Questions in Louisiana and Texas — General Hancock's Treatment of them — Extracts from his Orders while in New Orleans — General Hancock's Course obnoxious to the Radicals — They determine on his Removal — James A. Garfield's Bill reducing the Number of Major- Generals — Petty Annoyances — General Hancock applies to be Relieved — Relieved of his Command March 18, 1868 .... 295

Chapter XXXII

New Orleans — The Pease Correspondence — Message of President Johnson to both Houses of Congress — Letter of General Hancock on the Freedmen's Bureau — Commendatory Article in the " Southern Review " 310

Chapter XXXIII

Division of the Atlantic — 1868 — Political Campaign — General Hancock a Candidate for President — The Glover Correspondence — General Hancock relieved, and ordered to Dakota — The Indian Question — Attack on the Piegans — General Hancock again appointed to the Division of the Atlantic — Presidential Election of 18*72 — General Hancock's Name prominent. 333

CONTENTS. xiH

Chapter XXXIV

Department of the Atlantic — The Babcock Court of Inquiry— General Hancock's Address — Presidential Election of 1876 — The Disputed Count — Popular Excitement — The " Sherman Letter " . . Page 342

Chapter XXXV

The Sherman-Hancock Correspondence — Telegram from General Sherman — General Sherman's Letter of December 4, 1876 — Hancock to Sherman ; Leave of Absence — General Sherman's Letter of December 17, 1876 : A Newspaper Story — General Hancock's Letter from Carondelet — Telegram : Hancock to Sherman — General Sherman's Letter of January 2, 1877 ; Reply to the Carondelet Letter — Hancock to Sherman : Contemplated Uprising — Hancock to Sherman — Hancock to the Editor of the " World " — Hancock to Sherman : the Electoral Commission — Sherman to Hancock : January 29, 1877 349

Chapter XXXVI

1877 — Situation of the Country — Great Financial Depression — Railroad Strikes — The Army employed to suppress Rioting — General Hancock directs its Movements — 1880 — The Nominations for President — Cincinnati Convention — General Hancock unanimously nominated the Candidate of the Democratic Party — The Platform — Speech of Hon. Daniel Dougherty — General Hancock's Letter of Acceptance . . . 368

Chapter XXXVII

Conclusion — Anecdote of Mr. Lincoln — An Incident of Chancellorville — Hancock as a Writer: Testimony of General James B. Steadman — Generals Sherman and Sheridan on General Hancock — Hon. Amasa Cobb's Opinion of Him — Magnificent Tribute by a Kansas Lecturer — " Hancock " : A Poem, by Colonel A. J. H. Duganne — Dr. Junkin on General Hancock's Private Character — Finis .... 383

ILLUSTRATIONS.

blrthrlace of general hancock.

Hancock at Williamsburg. " Gentlemen, Charge ! "

Hancock, at Antietam, taking Command of Richardson's Division.

Hancock at Gettysburg.

General Hancock Wounded at Gettysburg.

General Hancock at Spottsylvania.

srottsylvania. " lee to the rear."

Commandant's Residence, Governor's Island.

General Hancock and Family.

PLANS OF BATTLES

Plan — Battle of Boydton Road.

Plan of the Positions at and near Ream's Station, August 25, 1864.

Battle of Chancellorsville.

LIFE

OF

WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK.

Chapter I

Birth of Hancock — Ilis Birthplace — Montgomery Count}', Pennsylvania ; its Scenes and Associations — The Hancock Family — Ancestry and Early History — Benjamin F. Hancock and his Wife — Character and Characteristics of the Norristown Justice — Elements of Family Character — Family Politics.

The elasticity of the American system of government offers advantages to the sons of America, possessed, perhaps, by those of no other country. To the typical American — versatile and adaptable — all things are possible : for him are the most exalted achievements in action and in fame. Unrestricted and unbounded, the American character would appear capable of grasping success in whatsoever field of effort it enters into ; a peculiarity of our people which has long been the admiration and the wonder of foreign nations. How frequently and how peculiarly is this comprehensiveness of capacity exhibited may be seen in the lives of most of our eminent men ; but, perhaps, in the history of none has this profound, aspiring, and all-pervading nature been better illustrated than in that of the eminent hero and skilled statesman, an account of whose life is herein to be attempted. 1

Winfield Scott Hancock was born February 14, 1824, in a small village or hamlet in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, called Montgomery Square, located twelve miles east of Eorristown, and midway between that village and Doylstown, the county seat of Bucks. This region of country is one of rare beauty, teeming with natural wealth. Bounded on the north by the Kittatinny or Blue Mountains, on the east by the Delaware River, on the south by the States of Delaware and Maryland, and on the west by the Susquehanna, it embraces the old counties which constituted the original province to which was given the name of the illustrious Penn. Comprising a scenery varying with all the lavish possibilities of nature, it exhibits rolling hills and waving plains, stately mountains and smiling valleys, tall gray cliffs and deep ravines, sparkling brooks and noble rivers — its wooded ridges and fertile plow-lands presenting to the eye of the tourist a succession of landscapes marked with everchanging beauty and picturesqueness. It is a land of rare loveliness, affording to its industrious and thrifty iifhabitants beautiful, healthful, and happy homesteads, and is even to-day visited by thousands of travelers as a portion of the country especially favored in its landscape and scenic resources.

The County of Montgomery, named after the gallant and accomplished Irish General who fell while leading an assault on Quebec in the early period of the Revolutionary struggle, was set off from Philadelphia County in 1784. Within its bounds were located some of the earliest settlements that were effected by Europeans in the Middle States. Indeed, as early as 1640, Swedes, Hollanders, Welsh, Germans, and English had sought the banks of the Delaware, the Schuylkill, and the JSTeshaminy. During o u

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HIS ANCESTRY. 3

the Revolutionary War, this section of the country became famous for its historic fields — Brandywine, Paoli, White Horse, Germantown, and Valley Forge — while the forces both of Sir William Howe and General Washington encamped upon the plains of Montgomery County and traversed her roads.

Born amid such surroundings, and within the memory of such associations, Winfield Scott Hancock came of British ancestry, his father, however, Benjamin Franklin Hancock, having been an American, born in the city of Philadelphia, October 19, 1800. He was the son of Richard Hancock by his second wife, Ann Maria Nash, who was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1777. Richard and Ann Maria Hancock were married in Philadelphia, They had two children, Benjamin Franklin, the father of General Hancock, and Sarah, born in 1802, who became the wife of Henry E. Reynolds, Esq., now deceased. Richard Hancock had, by his previous marriage, two daughters, Eliza and Ann, who died at or near Philadelphia. This Richard Hancock, grandfather to the subject of our biography, was a mariner, who, being on a voyage while his son Benjamin, Winfield's father, was quite young, was with others captured by the British, and, under pretext of their owing allegiance to Great Britain, was confined in Dartmoor prison, and did not return to America for several years. This occurred in 1812, when 2,500 impressed American sailors were incarcerated in this huge jail, where most of them were detained, receiving exceptionally harsh treatment, until the end of the war. The Dartmoor prison inclosure occupied an area of thirty acres, encircled by a double line of lofty walls. The moor itself is a desolate tract of land in Devonshire, about 150,000 acres in area, alternately swamp and barrens.

It is possible that this occurrence may account in part for the firm adherence of the Hancock family to that party in politics which always most firmly resisted British aggression, denied the right claimed by Great Britain of searching American vessels for British seamen, and which has always advocated a policy distinctively American. The long and unjust imprisonment of the father caused the breaking up of the family. His son Benjamin was reared by John Roberts, Esq., a member of the Society of Friends, residing near Montgomery Square, with whom he continued to live until his marriage. The daughter, Sarah, was, at a later period, provided with a home in the house of a Mr. Harper, at Providence, in the same county, where she remained until about her sixteenth year, when she rejoined her brother, with whom she lived until she returned to Philadelphia and there married. Hichard Hancock, after his release, returned from England, but again embarked for a voyage to that country, and died of ship fever while at sea. His wife, the mother of Benjamin, and grandmother of "Winfield, died about 1822, a few years after the death of her husband. Benjamin F. Hancock, named, of course, after the great patriot, statesman, and philosopher, was, when quite a young man, thrown upon his own resources for a livelihood, owing to his having displeased his guardian by not marrying in the Society of Friends. In order to support himself and wife, he resorted to teaching, which he practiced at Montgomery Square, and also for a time in the northern part of Bucks County. While thus employed, however, he prosecuted the study of law, under the direction of the Hon. John Freedley, of Norristown, formerly a member of Congress, and an eminent lawyer. Mr. Freedley died, leaving a large estate, of which he appointed his former

TEE HANCOCK FAMILY. 5

student one of the executors, thus exhibiting the great confidence he felt in Mr. Hancock. The latter was admitted to the bar in Montgomery County in the year 1828, about which time he removed with his family to Norristown, the subject of this memoir being at that time in his fourth year.

In that town, now a city, Benjamin Hancock continued in the diligent practice of his profession until his death, which occurred on the 1st of February, 1867, in the 67th year of his age. His remains lie buried in the Montgomery cemetery at ISTorristown. He left to survive him a widow and three children — Major-General Winfield Scott Hancock and Hilary B. Hancock, twins, and John Hancock. He was a well-read, judicious, and industrious lawyer. His opinions were always held in high respect, and, being patient and careful in his investigations, to these opinions when formed he always firmly adhered. Of calm, equable temper, his character was marked by great decision. He was preeminently a just man, specially qualified for the bench, and often spoken of in that connection. Nothing but his modesty and the absence of a self-seeking spirit prevented his reaching high judicial position. In his early years at the bar he was appointed District Attorney by the Governor of the State, but, although he served also in several other official capacities, it was always without effort on his part in his own interests.

Both he and his wife were consistent and exemplary members of the regular Baptist Church, and from 1842 until his death Benjamin Hancock was a deacon of the church, besides being superintendent of the Sabbathschool for more than thirty years.

Of Mr. Hancock, a writer in the Philadelphia " North

American " of February 2, 1867, said : " Thus has passed away, without an enemy, one of the oldest residents of Norristown. For more than forty years his deeds of love and charity and his acts of benevolence and enterprise have been conspicuous, and have endeared him to the entire community. During his long practice at the bar, his uniform kindness, his modest and unassuming manners, and his faithful attention to the interests of his clients, won the respect and esteem of his brethren at the bar and the judges on the bench. In almost every work of public benefaction of his town he was an active and prominent participant. He died as he had lived — a firm believer in the Christian faith, and of a certain hope in immortality." Mr. Hancock was considered by all who knew him one of the finest specimens of a gentleman of the old school, a thorough Saxon in his form and fair complexion, six feet in height, and, in his latter years, portly, erect in carriage, dressing with elegance and scrupulous neatness, his entire bearing being that of a gentleman, his kind and dignified manners, radiant with Christian benevolence, causing him to be universally esteemed and admired.

General Hancock's mother, Elizabeth Hoxworth, was born in Montgomery County, and died in 1879. Her ancestry was English and Welsh. Her father, Edward Hoxworth, was born in Hatfield township, Montgomery County, in 1760, and died in 1847. He descended from a long line of Hawkesworths (for thus the name was anciently spelled), one of whom was a soldier in the old French and Indian wars, and captain in the American patriot army, and died in camp in 1777. Edward, General Hancock's grandfather, was a Revolutionary soldier, whose brother was an officer in the War of 1812.

FAMILY POLITICS. 7

From these brief notices of the ancestry of our subject, it will be seen that, while military experience characterized the family from the beginning, the warlike tendency was chastened by sincere and earnest Christian belief and practice, and by professional labors in the paths of education and law-making. From such roots, struck firmly and deeply into the ground made sacred by the blood of his forefathers, might well spring forth a branch, combining in the elements of its growth the qualities of firmness, patriotism, and respect for law and order for which the family were eminent.

It is related of the Hancock family that its political principles were always, especially after the presidency of John Adams, those of the anti-Federal, or Democratic, party. Benjamin Hancock's convictions of the necessity for a strict construction of the Constitution of the United States were very decided, so that the subject of this memoir was early indoctrinated into the Democratic faith, and strongly impressed with its importance to the perpetuity of the Union and the preservation of American liberty. A regard for personal liberty, freedom of speech, and a marked spirit of adherence to the right of local self-government have always characterized the Hancock connection from the beginning of its history in America.